Verbs: Imperative Mood

01

Forming the Imperative

To form a command, you generally take the present tense stem of the verb and remove the prefix (usually ⁧⁧تَـ⁩⁩ (tạ-ta-ta-t-)). Because Arabic words cannot start with a consonant cluster (two consonants without a vowel in between), you must add a "helper" vowel at the beginning, written as an Alif (⁧⁧ا⁩⁩ (ʼạlịfʾalifˈalifˈalf)).

The sound of this starting vowel depends on the middle vowel of the present tense verb:

• The 'u' sound: If the middle vowel of the present tense is a Damma (⁧ـُ⁩ (ụuu)), the imperative starts with ⁧اُ⁩ (u).

• ⁧اُكْتُبْ الدَّرْسَ.⁩

  uktụb ᵃddạrsạ.uktub ᵃddarsa.uktub ᵃddarsa.uktb ᵃdrs.

  Write the lesson.

• ⁧اُدْخُلْ الْغُرْفَةَ.⁩

  udḵụl ᵃlḡụrfạẗạ.udk͟hul ᵃlg͟hurfata.udẖul ᵃlġurfaẗa.udḵl ᵃlḡrfẗ.

  Enter the room.

• The 'i' sound: If the middle vowel is a Fatha (⁧ـَ⁩ (ạaa)) or a Kasra (⁧ـِ⁩ (ịii)), the imperative starts with ⁧اِ⁩ (i).

• ⁧اِجْلِسْ هُنَا.⁩

  ijlịs hụnā.id͟jlis hunā.iǧlis hunā.ijls hna.

  Sit here.

• ⁧اِفْتَحْ الْبَابَ.⁩

  iftạḥ ᵃlbābạ.iftaḥ ᵃlbāba.iftaḥ ᵃlbāba.iftḥ ᵃlbab.

  Open the door.

02

Conjugation by Gender and Number

The ending of the verb changes depending on who you are commanding.

• You (masculine singular): No suffix is added. The verb ends in a ⁧⁧سُكُون⁩⁩ (sụkūnsukūnsukuwnskwn) (silence).

• ⁧اِذْهَبْ إِلَى الْعَمَلِ.⁩

  iḏhạb ʼịlā ᵃlʕạmạlị.id͟hhab ʾilā ᵃlʿamali.iḏhab ˌilā ᵃlʿamali.iḏhb ˌila ᵃlʕml.

  Go to work.

• You (feminine singular): Add ⁧⁧ـِي⁩⁩ (-ī-ī-iy-y) to the end.

• ⁧اِشْرَبِي الْقَهْوَةَ.⁩

  išrạbī ᵃlqạhwạẗạ.is͟hrabī ᵃlqahwata.išrabiy ᵃlqahwaẗa.išrby ᵃlqhwẗ.

  Drink the coffee.

• You (plural masculine/mixed): Add ⁧⁧ـُوا⁩⁩ (-ū-ū-uw-w) to the end. Note that the final ⁧⁧ألف⁩⁩ (ʼạlịfʾalifˈalifˈalf) is written but not pronounced.

• ⁧اُدْرُسُوا اللُّغَةَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ.⁩

  udrụsū ᵃllụḡạẗạ ᵃlʕạrạbịyyạẗạ.udrusū ᵃllug͟hata ᵃlʿarabiyyata.udrusuw ᵃlluġaẗa ᵃlʿarabiyyaẗa.udrsw ᵃlḡẗ ᵃlʕrbyẗ.

  Study the Arabic language.

• You (plural feminine): Add ⁧⁧ـْنَ⁩⁩ (-nạ-na-na-n) to the end.

• ⁧اِسْمَعْنَ الْكَلَامَ.⁩

  ismạʕnạ ᵃlkạlāmạ.ismaʿna ᵃlkalāma.ismaʿna ᵃlkalāma.ismʕn ᵃlklam.

  Listen to the words.

• You (dual - two people): Add ⁧⁧ـَا⁩⁩ (-ā-ā-ā-a) to the end.

• ⁧اِلْعَبَا فِي الْحَدِيقَةِ.⁩

  ilʕạbā fī ᵃlḥạdīqạẗị.ilʿabā fī ᵃlḥadīqati.ilʿabā fiy ᵃlḥadiyqaẗi.ilʕba fy ᵃlḥdyqẗ.

  Play (you two) in the garden.

03

Negative Commands (Prohibitions)

To tell someone not to do something, you do not use the imperative form described above. Instead, use the particle ⁧⁧لَا⁩⁩ (lālālāla) followed by the present tense verb (in the Jussive mood).

• ⁧لَا تَكْتُبْ عَلَى الْجِدَارِ.⁩

  lā tạktụb ʕạlā ᵃljịdārị.lā taktub ʿalā ᵃld͟jidāri.lā taktub ʿalā ᵃlǧidāri.la tktb ʕla ᵃljdar.

  Do not write on the wall.

• ⁧لَا تَذْهَبِي هُنَاكَ.⁩

  lā tạḏhạbī hụnākạ.lā tad͟hhabī hunāka.lā taḏhabiy hunāka.la tḏhby hnak.

  Do not go there (female).

• ⁧لَا تَأْكُلُوا هَذَا.⁩

  lā tạʼkụlū hặḏā.lā taʾkulū hād͟hā.lā taˈkuluw hāḏā.la tʼklw hḏa.

  Do not eat this (plural).

04

Politeness

The imperative form can sound quite direct or harsh in Arabic. To soften a request and make it polite, it is common to add ⁧⁧مِنْ فَضْلِكَ⁩⁩ (mịn fạḑlịkạmin faḍlikamin faḍlikamn fḍlk) - to a male or ⁧⁧مِنْ فَضْلِكِ⁩⁩ (mịn fạḑlịkịmin faḍlikimin faḍlikimn fḍlk) - to a female, which means "please".

• ⁧اِقْرَأْ الْكِتَابَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ.⁩

  iqrạʼ ᵃlkịtābạ mịn fạḑlịkạ.iqraʾ ᵃlkitāba min faḍlika.iqraˈ ᵃlkitāba min faḍlika.iqrʼ ᵃlktab mn fḍlk.

  Read the book, please.